The Know Nothings in Louisiana

A surprising history of political success for the nativist, anti-Catholic movement

In the 1850s, a startling new political party appeared on the American scene. Both its members and its critics called the new party by various names, but to most it was known as the
Know Nothing Party. It reignited political fires over nativism and anti-immigration sentiments. At a time of political uncertainty, with the Whig
party on the verge of collapse, the Know Nothings seemed destined to
replace them and perhaps become a political fixture.

Historian Marius M. Carriere Jr. tracks the rise and fall of the Know
Nothing movement in Louisiana, outlining not only the history of the
party as it is usually known, but also explaining how the party's unique
permeation in Louisiana contrasted with the
Know Nothings' expansion nationally and
elsewhere in the South. For example, many
Roman Catholics in the state joined the Know
Nothings, even though the party was nationally known as anti-Catholic.

While historians have largely concentrated
on the Know Nothing's success in the North,
Carriere furnishes a new context for the evolution of a national political movement at odds
with its Louisiana constituents. Through statistics on various elections and demographics of
Louisiana politicians, Carriere forms a detailed
account of Louisiana's Know Nothing Party.
The national and rapidly changing Louisiana
political landscape yielded surprising, credible
leverage for the Know Nothing movement.
Slavery, Carriere argues, also played a crucial
difference between southern and northern
Know Nothing ideals. Carriere delineates the
eventual downfall of the Know Nothing Party, while offering new perspectives on a nativist movement, which has appeared once again in a changing, divided country.

Marius M. Carriere Jr., Memphis, Tennessee, is professor of history at Christian Brothers University. In addition to entries in the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, he has published essays in edited volumes as well as articles in Journal of Mississippi History, Tennessee Historical Quarterly, and Louisiana History.